Atelier Blog | Classical Atelier Seattle

Gage Academy of Art was delighted to host Florence-based painter and instructor, Jordan Sokol, this August. Over the course of an intensive five-day workshop, students were able to immerse themselves in the basic principles of sight-size, blocking in, value, and a limited color palette.

When sighting and measuring for a painting or drawing, there are two essential tools to have on hand: a straight skewer and a plumb line. Skewers are easy to come by, as one need only utilize a thin metal knitting needle or straight bamboo stick; plumb lines can be constructed with two simple elements: a thin length (a little less than 1') of dark thread and a weight.

Congratulations go out to our three graduates: D. Jordan Parietti, Elizabeth Zanzinger, and Zoey Frank. Each of these women has set a shining example through their perserverence, thoughtfulness, ability to assist and guide fellow students, and-- of course --tremendous bodies of work. They have set the bar high and will be greatly missed.

In the atelier, we are fortunate enough to have a full-time model coordinator who meticulously screens and hires models, then recommends them for our program. While this is mostly advice for potential/current models, it is good information for artists, model coordinators, and monitors to bear in mind when hiring/working with models.

One of the greatest pleasures of the atelier is working from life models. Five mornings a week, for four full years, we draw insipration from the human form. How many artists are able to have such a luxury? Not many... and we are well aware of it.